To Market, To Market...

To market, to market, to buy a fat pig,

Home again, home again, jigity- jig;

(Mother Goose)

When I was a little girl and we went to away for a day or longer my mom would always say that poem just as we could see our home. So now I'm home safe and sound but busy trying to catch up to whatever happened when I left. Fortunately, I had a great time at Palmetto's and came back with enthusiasm for everything...even changing the kitty litter (maybe that's taking it too far).

My mom and I figured that we drove approximately 3900 km for the entire trip from Ontario to Myrtle Beach to Winnsboro and back. It was definitely worth the trip to attend the Tat days! I had a great time and everyone I met was great! Thank-you so much to the volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this event happen. I'm sure you are all exhausted but please don't stop. Give bribes, take hostages, or use blackmail but please don't stop.

There's just too many things to think of right now but there was lots going on. You never had a reason to be bored. There is no experience like sitting around talking to other tatters about tatting. Just for tips and tricks alone you can't beat it! I have so many more tools to use and thank-you to everyone who shared their ideas. If you have never been to a tatting seminar its definitely worth the drive to attend one in your area. The first one is the scariest, especially if you have to drive more than a few hours. After that you're hooked...just like crack!

I may or may not have gone beyond my original purchase list but I have a pile of stuff that I brought back. There's a huge pile on my table. I couldn't resist buying more hand dyed thread and goodie bags rock!

My mind is spinning with knots.

Here's the plan...

This Saturday I'm starting my trek towards Winnsboro and TAT DAYS. I'm generally not a fun person to have a conversation with just before I go on vacation. I hate due dates and a vacation is a definite due date. In order for me to go away with no interruptions all patient files have to be up to date (naturally a daily thing) but also the treatment plans need to be crystal clear so Sal (the other Chiropractor) can take over seamlessly.

I also have the delusion that my house will be clean (not) or at least not embarrassing. It was clean until we started to do some more repairs last weekend. Then we basically tore everything apart. My current plan is to shove everything under a bed or in my newly built closet. The good news is that everything tatting related is packed and my clothes are kinda picked out.

The last obstacle are my flea-bitten cats (despite using the flea drops) that have converted into outdoor cats over the last few months. They refuse to come inside and it may require starving them for a few days to get them inside. I will also have to do some serious flea intervention. Usually when I go away they are happy to remain inside with lots of food, water and kitty litter. This may not happen so the last ditch plan is to beg my neighbor to feed them daily.

I'm leaving on Saturday heading for my mom's house. We will head out on Sunday to visit my niece and nephew in Niagara Falls and then leave on Monday in the general direction of South Carolina. The basic plan is spend a few days in Myrtle Beach then head to Winnsboro on Thursday for the Palmetto Tat Days. There may be some shopping on the way...we like to shop.

There is a vending room at Tat Days and since I like stuff I try to make a plan for what purchases I can reasonably make. For instance, I do not need any more shuttles and unless there is a desperate yearning for a very special one I am not purchasing any (other then the ones I've already ordered). Thread is something I don't need a whole lot of at this point in time but I've picked a few colors that I would like to add to my collection. There are a few pattern books that I want to pick up so they've gone on the list as well.

I've been watching a lot of A&E lately and they have this show called Hoarders on Monday nights. Basically its about people who obsessively collect things. Its a very scary show because some of these people are living in very unsanitary conditions and even when their houses are full they are bringing home stuff or buying things because its cheap or just in case they need it. These aren't people you would meet on the street and think are crazy they're normal people. Its scared the crap out of me so I'm not buying or bringing home anything that I'm not immediately planning on using. I've already achieved SABLE (stash accumulated beyond life expectancy) in tatting supplies so I'm being particular.

Bookmarks

My aunt Bonnie told me that my cousin Luke goes through bookmarks like crazy. She's going to the bookstore and paying $5-8 for each bookmark- that's insane! So I told her I would make up a bunch. He's a teenager so I don't want them to look girly and they need to be simple because he's gonna lose them. So I've been experimenting. I'm using the DMC thread that my sister bought at a yard sale last year. It was a bag full of and because its a larger size the bookmarks are a decent size with very little work. There's a few other designs but I haven't scanned them yet.

I've also make a few hearts for my aunt as well. This is the same heart that I used in the snowflake doily I made a few months ago. I call them droopy cheek hearts because the lower chains looks like its drooping a bit.

Rings and more rings

Ever since I covered one in the spring I've been crazy about covering cabone rings. Then I saw these cute gold rings at Michael's and had to have them. I just knew that I could make something fun.

Obviously I couldn't cover all that goldy goodness with tatting. So I pulled out those ugly plastic cabone rings that I could hide under some fun thread. Then I started with a simple pattern and this is what I got:

I'm almost done since only 10 gold rings came in the package.

Update on my sewing machine...

Good news! I didn't have to take my sewing machine to the repair shop. My mom fixed it in about 2 seconds. She took the spool off and found that the thread was wound around the base. Mmmmm I tried re-threading the machine but didn't think of taking the spool off. She tested it by sewing a few items and everything was fine.
What I know about sewing couldn't fill a thimble...but I can now finish my pillows.

Summer fun

Its finally become a little summery here in Ottawa! No rain in sight today (it rained more in July than EVER on record). To celebrate the arrival of some warm weather I'm giving you something to do while basking in the sun. Add a little sparkle to you summer by making this fun summer bracelet!

Supplies
size 20 thread, 120 size 10 beads
bangle bracelet

W- wrap (see http://victats.blogspot.com/2009/03/more-fun-than-it-looks.html for instructions on how I recomend you encapsulate the bangle)
B- bead, number of beads indicated by the number of Bs

*R 4BB4
W 5
R 4+ (btwn Bs on prev ring) 4BBB4BB4
W 5
R 4+(btwn Bs on last beaded picot on prev ring)4
W 5BBB5*
* repeat from * to * around bangle ending where you began.

You can make several and wear them stacked together for effect!

Looking for something to do?

If you are looking for something to do in September (maybe a "destination vacation") I strongly suggest visiting the lovely South Carolina. What better way to spend a weekend...
..and since you're in the area, why not head out to the White Oaks Convention Center and sign up for the Palmetto TAT DAYS! If you go to their site at http://www.palmettotatters.org/index.shtml you can get all the details as well as see pictures from previous years. The projects are great and there's a wonderful cast of teachers:
Vicki Clarke (me)
Hope Green
Sharren Morgan
Jane Eborall
Erin Holloway
Karey Solomon
Martha Ess
Nina Libin
Riet Surtel

I'm excited to because I not only be attending but teaching a few projects! I thought I would share a few sneak peaks of the projects I'm teaching:

The Culprit
Fall Flower Broach



A closer look at one of the flowers.

Rosette Sachet (variation below)

Wine Charms/Magnets

I'm terribly excited about this weekend and I hope to see you there shuttles, needles and thread in tow!